Central Leading Group for Propaganda and Ideology

The Central Leading Group for Propaganda and Ideological Work (simplified Chinese: 中央宣传思想领导小组; pinyin: Zhōngyāng Xuānchuán Sīxiǎng Lǐngdǎo Xiǎozǔ) is the agency under the Politburo of the Communist Party of China responsible for nationwide propaganda and information.

Its current group leader is Liu Yunshan; with Liu Yandong and Liu Qibao as deputies.

Functions and duties

The CLGPIW controls all propaganda, publicity and information of the Communist Party of China as well as the People's Republic of China. The agencies under its scrutiny include the CPC Propaganda Department and the State Council Information Office. Its basic function is to coordinate ideological, propaganda, cultural, media and publishing activities.^[1] In both composition and duties, the CLGPIW overlap another similar body, the CPC Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization.

The group leader is usually the Politburo Standing Committee member in charge of propaganda, while the deputy leader is the head of the Propaganda Department. The rest of the group members (usually five to eight), except for the head and deputy head of the Secretarial Group, seem to be unknown to the public.^[1]

History

The CLGPIW was established in the summer of 1957 as the Central Theory Group (中央理论小组; Zhōngyāng Lǐlùn Xiǎozǔ) led by Kang Sheng,^[2] but it was replaced on June 10, 1958 by a Central Culture and Education Group (中央文教小组; Zhōngyāng Wénjiào Xiǎozǔ) led by Lu Dingyi, with Kang Sheng as deputy leader and Chen Boda among its members,^[2] until a separate leading group for education was established in 1982.^[1] The current CLGPIW was established in 1988 by the CPC Central Committee Directive No. 11.^[3]

Its first leader was Hu Qili, although he was dismissed in 1989 for opposing the use of violence against Tiananmen Square protesters. Although usually the group leader is a Politburo Standing Committee member, Ding Guangen, who led the CLGPIW from 1992 to 2002, was concurrently Standing Committee member, Secretariat member and Propaganda Department head.

List of group leaders

1. Hu Qiaomu (1982–1987)
2. Hu Qili (1987–1989)
3. Li Ruihuan (1989–1992)
4. Ding Guangen (1992–2002)
5. Li Changchun (2002–2013)
6. Liu Yunshan (2013–present)

References

1. David Shambaugh, China's Propaganda System: Institutions, Processes and Efficacy, "The China Journal" No. 57, January 2007.
2. Alice Miller, The CCP Central Committee’s Leading Small Groups, "China Leadership Monitor", No. 26, p. 15.
3. Selected Documents on Party Propaganda Work (1988–1992), Central Party School Press, Beijing, 1993.